How is it possible??

I was talking to my youngest daughter, Sarah, yesterday as we were driving after we had dropped my oldest son, Noah, at camp. I told her, "It is amazing to me that I love Max so much already and I haven't even met him yet." She said without hesistation, "I love him so much too. He's in my heart. You know who else is in there? Jesus. They are in there together standing side by side." Amazing! She's seven years old...

Max is already in all of our hearts. Next to Jesus! We can't wait to meet him and bring him home! Please keep our family in your prayers -- especially Max... that God will surround him with His angels and protect him and bless him until we can bring him home!

Fingerprints are done!

This morning Greg and I went to get our federal digital fingerprints! One step closer to bringing our boy home! Please pray that the paperwork get processed quickly and that there are no problems with our fingerprints! Two of my fingers had issues due to dry skin so I am praying that there will not be a problem with them -- We are just patiently waiting and really hoping to travel in late July or early August so Noah can go with me for the return trip... Thanks so much for everyone's support!

We got our fingerprint appointment!

We just got notice that our fingerprint appointment is next week! YAY! Thanks for your prayers!

Waiting...

Just a quick update on our progress (or lack of progress) :) We have submitted our paperwork to the US government and are waiting for our fingerprint appointment! I have finished all the paperwork for our dossier (which will go to the adopting country) so all I need is the okay from the US that says we are suitable family to adopt a child! I also wanted to tell you about Reece's Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry! This is the ministry that matched us with Max and it is truly an amazing group of people! They match special needs kids (especially those with Down Syndrome) with their families and have matched over 170 kids to date with many in progress. Please visit their website and even though I know most of you can't adopt, please pray for these kids. The ministry is run entirely on donations (which are tax deductible) and you can donate to the ministry or sponsor a specific child or family for adoption. These children face institutionalization if not adopted so this is truly a life saving organization! You can donate by clicking on the button on the side of my blog! Their website is www.reecesrainbow.com! I encourage everyone to visit their site!
Many blessings and I will keep you posted! Please keep us in your prayers and pray specifically that we would be approved in record time!
Stephanie

About Max

I've been so busy with paperwork that it's been awhile since I've posted. I just wanted to tell you a little about Max! He seems to be a very happy kid! I have pictures and video taken last week and he has an infectious smile! He is always smiling and giggling at the camera...

Max has several congenital defects (abnormalities that he was born with)... these include a malformation in his neck and in his right forearm and hand. He is able to use his right hand in a limited way. We are hopeful that once we get him home, we can have some of these things surgically corrected but we won't know until we get him home. We don't see this as a limitation for him --- he is very active and keeps up with all his little friends at the orphanage. Greg and I see only his great potential! He is a child of God and we are so excited to get him home!

We are moving along with our adoption process... paperwork has been submitted to the U.S. government so we are basically waiting on them to give approval to us to adopt internationally. Our dossier is almost complete so we will be ready when the approval comes! My prayer is that he is home by the end of August -- this may be optimistic but God can move mountains!!!